Game



Nov. 18, 1941. A. WINTE GAME Filed June l5, 1940 `Patented Nov. 18, 1941 Y UNITED STATES f lenfriar:"r 'oFFlcE' Y -f 2.263.1 115 I( 'l I Lawrence A. `YifnAtles:McDonald, Pa. Application June 15, 1940. serial No. 340,714

9 claims. 273-94) This invention pertains to a new and improved game, and more particularlyto an apparatus for simulating inf miniature a game that employs actuated players or elements.

In one aspect, my invention deals with the provision of new and improved means for actuating or moving elements such as players employed in a game such as football.

And, it has been an object of my invention to provide new and improved game apparatus.

Another object has'been to devise a game apparatus providing a play simulated to that of an actual sport or game such as football, wherein elements are moved over a playing held.

, Anotherv object has been to provide a simpliil'd and interesting game apparatus capable of being played by one or more persons.

These and many other objects of my invenl tion will appear to those skilled inthe art from the description, the drawing, and the cl fw- In the'drawing: Figure I 'is a top view in perspective of an embodiment of my invention illustrating a footballv game; y

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in vertical elevation taken along the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view showing an. ac tuating element for the side representing the offensive in the football game;

Figure i is a vertical view in longitudinal secnon taken along the une IV-rv of Figure e;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing another type of actuating elementnormally employed by the defensive side during the playing of the game; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure a but talren along the line VI--VI of Figure 5.

or transparent for reasons which will be later explained. As shown in Figures 1 and2, one v player may sitv at the end of the board represented by the letter A, and the other player may` sit at the opposite end of the board represented by the letter B. The players A and B are thus in a position to actuate their representative men or elements through open end portions of the box-like housing or playing board I0. Forthis purpose, suitable actuating means are provided.

In the arrangement shown in Figure l, the person or player represented by B controls the defensive W side or the defensive football men, while the player A employs the offensive football men. Actually each persons side has seven defensive men and six offensive men, in order that his defensive men may be employed when l13 (or A) is playing thedefensive side of the game and his offensive men may be employed` when B (or A) vhas the ball and is playing the offensive side.

' The defensive side is providedy with a suitable number of linemen which will Apreferably have numbers on their uniforms represented by the numerals I, 2, il, I, 5, etc. In fact. all of the football men are preferably numbered. Defensive Y men |6, inclusive, are provided with lower cen- As set forth particularly in an illustrative embodiment oi my invention shown in Figures 1' and 2, I have provided a playing board or housing represented in its entirety bythe numeral it.. The board it comprises a planar-like bottom portion li of suitable thickness and strength to support the arrangement, longitudinal sidewall portions it, a top cover portion i3 (representing intermediate or spacer ters of gravity or with a slightly greater weight than the offensive men I'-6', inclusive. The men I-5, inclusive, are, in effect, stationary men placed in a suitable position by player B and when the play actually begins, the defensive men t and l are moved towards the-opposing side to stop the ball carrier represented by the numeral B', or to back up the inanimate, football nien i-t.

The animate men 6 and 1 of the defensive side and I', inclusive. of the offensive side are preferably provided with bases having permanent magnets represented as a. Each defensive backeld man Ci and 1, who may be termed a halfback, is actuated, moved', or slid by individual slidable actuating means 20. The means iii has a substantially planar face portion provided with Ka permanent electromagnetl b, and having an extending handle portion of wire or other suitable material represented'as 22. In like manner, as shown particularlyin Figures 3 and 4, the offensive side A. is provided with a suitable means 23 for actuating all of the players as a group. The actuating element 23 also has a substantially planar outline and is provided with a number of magnets b corresponding to the number of oil'ensive football men.

To further balance the defensive side, the ele-y plastic, or glass, and are preferably translucent ments 2B are provided with stronger magnets than the actuating element 2l or are preferably actuated through a single thickness I2, while the offensive football men are actuated through two layers I2 and I3, see Figure 2. That is, the magnetslb of the actuating slide elements and '23 arev of opposite polarity to the magnets a of the football men, and thus, the two have a normal tendency to attract each other. It will be apparent that the bar-like magnets a and b each have north and southpoles. To obtain the maximum attraction. therefore, the south pole of the magnetb will be opposite to the north pole of the magnet a, and likewise the north pole of the magnet b will be opposite to the south pole of the magnet a; this is what the applicant has reference to when speakinlof the so-called opposite polarity of the two sets of magnets. It is thus apparent that a movement of the handles 22 and 2l will cause a corresponding sliding movement of the representative men. However, when the men run into each other, they will upset and be knocked oil magnetic contact, simulating the interference take-outs and other plays of an ordinary football game. the ball carrier when stopped is indicated by a side line marker and the stationary men are again lined up and the animated men are placed over their corresponding actuating magnets b.k

bility, although the portion II, serving only a support function, may be entirely rigid in construction. It will be noted that the operation of the offensive players I8', inclusive, and of the defensive animated players 6 and 'I is in two diilerent paths or in two distinct and separate spaces of the playing board I0.' 'I'he handle portions 22 and 2l are preferably long enough so that the elements 20 and 23 can be moved the full lengthV of the playing ileld, for example. from Bs goal or zero yard line to As goal or zero yard line. It is thus apparent that there is no interference between the actuating elements 20 and actuating elements 23.

The game may be played as follows: First, in the kickoff, a lightweight ball I9 is placed on 'f the kickers forty-yard line midway between the side line stripes. The kicking team, for example. Bs, then employs two men 6 and 1, representing its color which may be red. The handles 22 are then operated by the player so that one of the football men 6 or I strikes the ball, kicking it towards the other side of the nerd. The 'other offensive man I or 6 is moved to any suitable position to prevent a runback by the other side A. The other side A is provided with six men (I'8') having another suitable color such as white: they are actuated by the operating arm 24 and may pick the ball up" by striking against it, moving it back towards the original end of the held. It is then up to the animated players 8 and 'I as controlled by the operator B to block such a carryback or return of the kick.

Lineplay will next be considered. When the kickoff has been completed, assuming that the ball is stopped in the position marked by the element 25, Ythe oilensive and' defensive players A and B line up their respective men on the playingileld facing each other with the center 2' of the offensive side in a position where the ball I 9 was placed `down. However, the ball I9 is 'I'he position of now removed and it is assumed that when a play is made, the center I' passes directly to the backfleld fullback l'. 'I'he ball is only used during a kick-off, a punt. or a try for an extra point.

Referring te Figure 1, we will assume that the ball was stopped at Bs forty-yard line. Then the respective sides will have their players in the position shown. A, having the initiative, will figure out his play, call oil' suitable signals, and then slide his element 23 to move the players I to C towards Bs goal line. He may try alineplay between one of the players I-B, inclusive, or he may try an end-run. The lineplay may be partially blocked by the stationary, but tlltable defensive men I-5, inclusive, but these men if hit correctly may be knocked out of the way, opening the way for'further travel of the ball carrier t. However, the defensive player B then actuates his animated men 6 and 1 to stop an end-around play or to back up the defensive line.

The plays will be run off similar to a football game in that each side will have four downs in which to make yardage and the playing time will be one hour, with no time out for setting up the men after a particular play. Any suitable number of persons, preferably at least two, may take part in the game; if additional players are available, one may operate the line marker 25, one may be referee, two may serve as coaches, and another may keep time with a stopwatch. If B is able to stop As men before they have obtained the necessary ilrst down within four tries, then B will employ his offensive men, removing his defensive players from the board. His offensive men will be similar to the oil'ensive men of the player A except that they will have a difierent color or marking. 1

When the offensive side wishes to pass, for example A, he will call oil.' suitable signals and say, Hep, ball to 5' (or I). In other words, the two end men 5 and I' are eligible pass receivers. Then the defensive side B must operate or slide his animated elements 6 and l in such a manner as to stop the end men rather than the backfleld man 6.

'When the offensive side has been stopped on the downs and wishes to punt, the ball I8 `is brought out again on the field and placed just outside the offensive end. An additional offensive magnetic man is brought out corresponding to one of the men 8 and I of the defensive side and he is actuated by the oii'ensive slide element 20 to hit the ball or kick it.

When a try for an extra point is to be made, the offensive side brings out two defensive halfbacks and 'l' and strikes the ball with one of them, attempting to put it between the goal posts I6, while, of course, the defensive side will endeavor to prevent this by employment of the animated men 8 and 1; the stationary men Il to 5, are removed from the field during the"try. Of course, the try can be made by an ordinary running play with the men lined up as in Figure 1, but on a suitable yard line of the defending team.

Although I have illustrated my invention as particularly applied to a football game, it will be l apparent to those skilled in the art that it has a broad application and may be employed whereever animated figures are-needed, for example, in football, baseball, golf or racing games. One of the important features oi the invention is believed to restin the provision of means for actuating the players that does not obstruct the playing field or detract from the interest in the game, and which permits each operator to actuate his elements without undesired obstruction tion and claims, I have reference to the broader meaning therein involved. 'I'hat is, I have reference to movement on or along a part or surface, particularly in the sense that such surface,`

or part acts as a support or guide for the movement, regardless of whether or not anti-friction devices suchas rollers, etc., are used.

Although, as pointed out, I have shown a particular type of game, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the .invention is not limited to such an arrangement and that various modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims. It will also be noted that I preferably employ permanent magnets a and b, but if desired, electromagnets may be used and current carried by the handle portions i2 and 2d.

I claim:

l. In a' game apparatus having an extending playing surface portion and a playing element` positioned on said surface portion for movement therealong, the combination of a guide portion positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to an under side of said playing sur- By providing suitable spacers or ing surface portion for sliding movement therealong, the combination of a pair of actuating means, each of said actuating means having magnetic'attraction with a base portion of atleast one of said playing elements through said playing surface portion such that a sliding movement thereof will produce a sliding movement of a corresponding playing element, meansslidably and operably positioning each of said actuating means beneath an under side of said playing surface portion and having portions for segregating one of said actuating means with respect to theother of said' actuating means during its movement along said playing surface portion.

4. In a game apparatus having an extending playing surface portion and at least a pair of playing elements operably positioned for sliding movement along an upper side thereof. the combination of ,a pair of spacer portions positioned beneath said playing surface portion and extending therealong, said spacer portions having guide surface portions, an actuating means operablyslidably positioned within a spacing provided by said spacer portions for movement therealong beneath said playing surface portion, said actuating means having magnetic attraction with a base portion of at least one of said playing elements through said playing surface portion such face portionand extending therealong, an actuating means operahly slidably positioned on said guide portion and in the spacing between said guide portion and the under side of said surface portion for movement along said guide portion,

ment therealong, the combination of a substantially planar spacer portion extending along said playing surface portion in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to an under side thereof, portions connecting said spacer portion to said playing surface portion, a substantially planar actuating means operably positioned in the spacing provided hy said spacer portion for sliding movement therealong, a handle portion extendingV from an end of' said playing surface` portion and connected to said actuating means for moving it with respect to said playing surface portion, said actuating means having magnetic attraction with a base portion of at least one of said playing elements through' said playing surface portion such that a sliding movement of said actuating that a sliding movement of said actuating means will produce a sliding movement of the correspending playing element, another actuating means operably and slidably positioned within another spacing provided by said spacer portions for movement beneath said playing surface portion, said last-mentioned actuating means having magnetic attraction with a base portion of another playing element through said playing surface portion such that a sliding movement of said actuating means will produce a sliding movement of the corresponding playing element, and means for moving each of said actuating means along the guide surface portions provided by said spacer portions.

5. in a. game apparatus having an extending playing surface portion and a pair of opposed playing elements operably positioned on said playingJ surface portion for movement therealong, the combination of a pair of superimposed guide portions positioned in a spaced-apart relationship along an under side of said playing surface portion and in a spaced-apart yrelationship vvith respect to each other, an actuating means operably slidably 'positioned within spacing provided by one of said guide portions and the under side of said playing Surface portion, another actuating means operaioly slidably positioned within wacing provided between said guide portions, each of said actuating means having a magnetic attraction with a base portion of one of said playing elements through said playing surface portion such that a sliding movement of said actuating means will produce a movement of corresponding playing elements, and means extending along each of the spacings and cooperating with each of said actuating means for moving each of said actuating means along said guide portions.

6. In a game apparatus having a substantially planar playing surface portion and player elements operably positioned on an upper side of said playing surface portion for sliding movement therealong, the combination of a pair of actuating means, each'of said actuating means having magnetic attraction with a base portion of at least one of said playing elements through said playing surface portion auch that a sliding movement thereof will produce a sliding movemeans slidably and operably positioning each oi' said actuating means beneathv an under side of said playing surface portion and having portions segregating' one of said actuating means with respect to the other of said actuating means during its movement along said playing surface portion, and handle means operably associated with one of said actuating means and extending beyond an end portion of said playing surface portion and having a length sufllcient to insure movement of said actuating means along the full length of said playing surface portion, and handle means operably associated with the other of said actuating means and extending beyond an opposite end of said playing surface portion and.

having a length sufficient to insure movement of said last-mentioned actuating means along the full length of said playing surface portion.

7. In a game apparatus having an extending playing surface portion and a playing element having a base portion slidably positioned for movement therealong. the combination of a magnet in the base portion of said playing element adjacent said playing surface portion, an actuating means slidably positioned along an under side surface of said playing surface portion for sliding movement therealong. said actuating means having a magnet therein arranged to present an opposite polarity to the magnet in said playing element, so that there will be a maximum attraction between the magnet of said player element and the magnet of said actuating means, and also so that said playing element will align itself in a suitable playing position on the field when brought into proximity through said playing surface portion with the magnetic attraction of said actuating means, and means for. slidably moving said actuating means along the under surface of said playing surface portion.

8. In a game apparatus for simulating a conventional game such as football and having an extending surface portion and a pluralityof playing elements operably positioned on an upper side of said extending surface portion for sliding movement therealong, the combination of an actuating means for said playing elements op erably and slidably positioned beneath an under side of said playing surface portion for move-1 Y ment of the corresponding Playing element.

ment therealong..said actuating plurality of magnet portions. each of said magnet portions having magnetic attraction witha corresponding playing element through said playing surface portion. and means for slidably moving said actuating means along the under side of said playing surface portion for slidably moving said playing elements along the upper side thereof. l

9. In a game apparatus adapted to closely simulate an outdoor game such as football and having a substantially planar surface portion whose upper side represents a typical playing field, playing elements representing offensive and defensive players operably positioned on the upper side of said planar surface portion for sliding movement therealong, the combination of a paddle-like actuating means for the offensive playing'elements, a paddle-like actuating means for the defensive playing elements, bar-like magnets positioned in base portions of said offensive and defensive players and in both of said paddle-like actuating means and arranged to provide magnetic attraction between each of said actuating means and its corresponding playing elements through said planar surface portion, a shelf-like 'substantially planar portion operably positioned beneath an under side of said playing surface portion in a spaced-apart relationship therewith. one of said operably-slidably positioned in the spacing between said shelf-like portions for longitudinal movement therealong, saidXlast-mentioned actuating means being adapted to cooperate with offensive playing elements for movingthem along said playing surface portion, and means extending out of the spacings and associated with both of said actuating means for moving them from opposite ends of said playing surface portion.

LAWRENCE A. WINTER.

means having a 

